Thomond Park re-opens doors

A NEW era dawns for Munster rugby next Friday. Just over 20 months since it closed its doors for re-development, Thomond Park will re-open for rugby for the under-20 interprovincial game between Munster and Ulster (kick-off 7.30pm).

The game is serving as a trial run, with a precautionary capacity of 10,000 being imposed for the ground's first use since its €40 million redevelopment.

The following week Munster will play their first Magners League venue at the ground in almost two years when hosting Glasgow. A limited capacity of 20,000 will be in place, in readiness for the Heineken Cup opener a week later, on Friday, October 10th, against Montauban.

As things stand, including debenture and season ticket holders, 16,000 of the capacity has been taken up for the Glasgow game while, as Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald explained yesterday: "if all options are taken up there will be a full capacity for the Montauban match of 25,000."

The main east and west stands hold 7,500 stands each, with a further 10,000 terrace tickets.

The redevelopment has been completed on time (the Munster Branch managing to suspend work and open the ground for last season's three Heineken Cup home matches) and within budget, the €40 million having been raised through Lottery funding, debenture tickets and Munster's own fund-raising in conjunction with the IRFU.

Almost all of the 20 corporate boxes have been sold, with corporate facilities for a further 800, as have all the 2,900 debenture tickets. The target date of the inter-active museum remains on course for November, while the projected opening of the Munster Rugby store may come in a week ahead of schedule for the Glasgow game.

"There's been a huge voluntary input from people as well, which has been excellent," said Fitzgerald, "and the whole project has been led by Pat Whelan (chairman of the Thomond Park Stadium Company).

"When we get it open and get people to find their seats, I've no doubt, as with any new venture, there'll be hiccups but it'll be a great facility. I think people will be very impressed with it."

Tickets for Friday's game are available online (www.munsterrugby.ie) and from: EAC Building, LIT, Limerick; Munster Rugby Store, Limerick; Ticket Office, Musgrave Park Cork; and the Munster Rugby store, Cork.

Tickets (there will be NO cash turnstiles) are priced at €5 for an limited number of unreserved seats in both stands; both terraces will be open, while there are family pack deals (two adults and two children) for €10 admittance to the North Terrace.